Golf stance indicator



Nov. 14, 1939. G. E. RICHARDS GOLF STANCE INDICATOR Filed May 24, 1939 INVENTOR ATTORNEY thereto if the same is struck'by the golf club.

Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GOLF STANCE mmca'ron Grover E. Richards: Youngstown, Ohio I Application May 24, 1939, Serial No. 275,380

This invention relates to a golf stance indicator.,

A further object of this invention is the provision of a golf stance indicator so formed that it may be folded together and carried readily in a golf bag.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a golf stance indicator, the portion of which .is positioned addacent to the golf ball; the golf stance indicator being formed of flexible material so that no damage will result A still further object of this invention is the provision of a golf stance indicator that may be used in golf training, teaching and similar instruction in the art of driving, etc. and especially one which may be utilized in connection with a written lesson thus making it possible for a novice to learn to correct his stance and improve his game accordingly.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a golf stance indicator so formed that it may be conveniently used as a sight to line up the drive thus aiding in driving the ball in a straight path once the proper setting of the indicator has been determined.

The golf stance indicator shown and described herein has been designed to provide a readily useable yet sufliciently compact device toenable the same to be readily carried about a golf course so that the same may be used frequently during the playing of the game and thus enable the golfer to readily determine the correctness of his stance in relation to the direction of the proposed drive. The 8011' stance indicator ispreferably formed of an extremely light metal and forms an attractive and practical indicating device.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds. the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustratedin the accompany ing drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the golf stance 4 Claims. (01.273-35) indicator in position for driving, dotted lines indicating the approximate positioning of the feet of the player and the golf ball being shown ,in its correct position in relation to the indicator. 5 Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of the centralmost portions of the golf stance indicator and shows in detail the calibrated markings thereon which enable the player to readily reposition the device and use the same once the 10 correct setting has been determined.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the golf stance indicator showing the sighting portion of the indicator device.

By referring to the drawing, it will be seen 18 that the golf stance indicator comprises a base plate I upon one end of which is permanently positioned a horizontal angular member 2 which in turn has pivoted to its outer end an upright sight member 3. Also attached to the base 20 plate I in a movable manner by means of a rivet 4 there is a horizontal tubular member 5 which is adapted to be positioned at right angles to the horizontal angular member 2 by means of a brace 6. This brace 6 being pivoted 25 to the horizontal angular member 2 by means of an adjustable bolt 1 positioned in a slot 8 in the horizontal angular member 2 thus enabling the resetting of the correct angle of the indicator in the event the same is bent or otherso wise impaired. The opposite end of the brace V 6 is provided with-an opening 9 which is adapted to be received upon a pin l0 formed on a bracket ll positioned on the side of the horizontal tubular member 5. Slidably positioned in this horizontal tubular member 5 there is a rod l2 provided with a lever l3 which protrudes thru a slot II in the horizontal tubular member 5 so that the rod l2 may be moved thereby. Attached to the outermost end of the rod l2 there 0 is a short section of flexible metal cable II, the outermost end It of which is rounded and fused to provide a practical pointer to indicate the correct position of a golf ball I! in relation thereto. In order that .the correct stance may be determined, it will be seen'that a secondary horizontal angular member l8 hasbeen pivoted to the base plate I by a rivet I! so that this secondary horizontal angular member l8 can be moved to'a number of various positions in relation with calibrated markings 20 on the base plate I. By referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that in using the golf stance indicator the horizontal angular member v2 and the upright sight member 3 thereof are used to determine the correct direction of flight toward the objective with the horizontal tubular member 5 and its associated parts in correct relation to the bail ll. At first usage several drives will be necessary to determine the correct stance judging by the results of the drives. when the correct stance is determined a notation of the calibrations on the indicator is made and the positioning of the secondary horizontal angular member I! in relation to the right foot of the golfer is determined. Once different calibrations have been determined it will be found that it will be the correct positioning for indicating the correct stance in connection with drives; it

15 being understood that slight variances will result due to varying directional winds and other conditions for which will have to be allowed. It will be seen by referring to Figure .2 of the drawing that various positions of the secondary go horizontal angular member i8 are possible, each of which is provided with a different calibration thus enabling the golfer to readily determine the correct repositioning of the indicator so as to indicate the correct stance on each subsequent drive.

It will thus be seen that a golf stance indicator unusually simple in construction but highly efficient in operation has been designed. The flexibility of the indicator enables its adaptation to the unique correct stance of the individual golfer and thus enables the golfer to readily determine the correct stance which, thru continued use of the indicator, will serve to teach the golfer the correct stance in relation to a proposed drive without resorting to the indicator itself.

What we claim is:

1. A golf stance indicator comprising a collapsible metallic structure formed of a base plate; a horizontal arm permanently flxed thereto; a sight arm pivoted to the said horizontal arm; a tubular arm pivoted to the. said base plate and held at right angles to the said horizontal arm; a slidable rod in the said tubular arm adapted to carry a section of flexible cable to serve as an indicator for the placement of a golf ball; a secondary horizontal arm pivoted to the said base plate directly opposite the said horizontal arm and adapted to be used in connection with calibrations on the said base plate in determining the proper positioning of the feet in relation to the position of the ball and the horizontal arm and sight of the indicator.

2. A golf stance indicator comprising a metallic structure adapted to form a right angle so as to indicate the positioning of a golf ball in relation to its proposed direction of flight comprising a base plate carrying a horizontal sight arm having a vertical sight portion formed thereon; a tubular arm positioned at right angles to the said horizontal sight arm; the said tubular arm adapted to carry a slidable rod which in turn carries a section of flexible cable; calibrations on the said base plate together with a secondary horizontal arm pivoted thereto and adapted to be movably positioned so as to enable the golfer to determine the proper stance in the terms of the calibrations on the said golf stance indicator.

3. A golf stance indicator comprising a base plate; a pair of horizontal arms attached to the said base plate and adapted to be positioned at right angles to one another by means of a brace; one of the horizontal arms carrying a vertical sight portion and the other horizontal arm carrying a slidable rod which in turn carries a section of flexible cable; a secondary horizontal arm pivoted to the said base portion; calibrations on the said base portion and on the various arms to enable a golfer to determine his proper stance by practice drives and thereafter repeat the proper stance by resetting the stance indicator to the proper calibrations.

4. A golf stance indicator comprising a collapsible metallic structure adapted to be positioned upon the ground in such manner as to indicate the direction of flight of a golf ball; the position of the golf ball, and the position of the golfer's feet and comprising a base plate; a horizontal arm immovably attached thereto; a sight arm on said horizontal arm; a tubular arm movably pivoted to the said base plate and positioned at right angles to the said horizontal arm by means of a removable brace; a slidable bar positioned in the said tubular arm; a section of flexible cable on the outermost end of the said slidable bar; a secondary horizontal arm pivoted to the said base plate and adapted to be used in connection with calibrations on the said base plate to enable a golfer to determine his proper stance in relation to the horizontal sighting arm and ball positioning arm of the device.

GROVER E. RICHARDS. 

